Leaf flipper



Oct. 25, 1932. J. C 1 1,884,059

LEAF FLIPPER Filed March 30, 1932 Patented Oct. 25, 1932 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE A JOHN L. MCMILLAN, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0MCMILLAN BOOK COMPANY,

OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK LEVAF FLIPPERApplication filedMarch 30, 1932. Serial No. 602,077.

This invention relates to improvements in leaf flippers for use withloose leaf binders and is particularly adapted to be used with looseleaf binders of the arcuate prong or split ring type.

In binders of the class having a plurality of spaced dividable prongs orrings, the leaves of the binder are provided with spaced 7 T aperturesadjacent one edge which are adaptthrough them.

ed to receive the prongs or rings therethrough, such apertures usuallybeing circular in shape and of a diameter slightly greater than that ofthe rings or prongs extending When the covers of the binder are moved toclose the book, the leaves are moved by the covers around the rings orprongs and when the binder is opened, the leaves again move along theprongs by gravity in assuming a natural normal position. In order toprotect the leaves, which are usually of thin flexible material, duringthe closing of the book and also to facilitate the movement of theleaves along the rings or prongs, certain devices composed of stiffmaterial and commonly called leaf flippers are placed on the ringsbetween the sheets and the covers and are moved by the covers duringtheclosing of the binder in much the same manner in which the sheets aremoved.

Binders of this type usually have the prong-supporting and operatingmechanism concealed beneath a metal cover plate and it is desirable thatthe inner longitudinal edge of the flippers are extended some distancebeyond the prong-receiving apertures for the purpose of ridingupon theupper surface of the cover plate during the closing and opening of thebinder for aiding the flippers in their movements along the rings orprongs.

This construction of the flippers has heretofore caused the innerlongitudinal edges of of the coacting flippers to lie in overlappingrelation when the book or binder is in the open position. Theoverlapping relation of the flippers is due in part to the length of theprong-receiving apertures'necessary to permit the free movement of theflippers along theprongs or rings duringthe opening and closing of thebinder and partly to the fact the inner edge of the uppermost flipper tobe moved into frictional engagement with the adjacent surface of thelowermost flipper during the initial movement of the closing aoperation, which owing to the character of the material composing theflippers, offers a greater degree of resistance to the outward movementof the flippers than when the inner edges thereof travel over the smoothmetal surface. of the cover, thereby causing the flippers to bind on therings or prongs until the inner edges of the flippers have moved out ofcontact with each other, thus interfering with the free operation of theflippers and to that degree reducing the efliciency thereof.

The main object of this invention is to improve the efficacy of looseleaf flippers by providing the flippers with means for preventing theinner longitudinal edges thereof from assumingan overlapping relationwhen the binder is in the open position, and at the same time, provideample means by which the flippers may be supported by the binder coverplate during the opening and closing operation of the binder. v

Another object of the invention is to provide a flipper of theabove-mentioned class with a support for the leaves which will hold theleaves in such a position with reference to the prongs or rings duringthe opening and closing movements of the book that there will be notendency of the leaves to bind on the prongs or rings.

Other objects and advantages relating to the form and relation of theparts of the structure of'the device'will more fully appear from thefollowing description, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawingin which Figure l is a perspective view of my novel leaf flipper partlybroken away.

Figure 2 is a plan view, partially broken away, of a binder in the openposition, with my leaf flippers in operative position thereon.

as at '4 and 5. On the back member 1 is secureda loiwitudinall extendins rin back a n b plate r having channels on its opposite edges forreceiving therein respective longitudinall extendin to le plates 8 and 9which have their outer edges seated in a respective channel and theirinner longitudinal edges termmatmg in close relat1on and flexiblyconnected together by means of a plurality of double-headed buttons, oneof which as 11,

is shown in Figure 3.

To each of the toggle plates 8 and 9 is Socured a plurality of, in thisinstance live, halfrings or prongs 14 and 15. respectively A curvedcover or top plate 17 having channels 18 in its opposite longitudinaledges is placed in position on the spring'back plate 7 with thelongitudinal edges of the spring back plate 7 registering in thechannels 18. Opposed slots19 and 20 are formed in the top plate 17 toreceive respective half rings 14 and 15therethrough and permitting theopen:

ing and closing movements of these rings. a

- My novel leaf flipper 22 is preferably made of comparatively stillmaterial such as metal,

fibre, cardboard or the like, and consists of a substantiallyrectangular body portion 24 having a plurality of, in this instancelive, elongated apertures 25 arranged in longitudinal spaced relationadjacent one longitudinal edge thereof and adapted to receive half-rings1d and 15 therethrough.

Portions of the longitudinal edge of the body 24 adjacent the apertures25 are bent upwardly at substantially right-angles to '7 the majorportion ,of the body to form ledges 26 of suflieient height to supportthe inner longitudlnal edges of a desired number of sheets as S, Figure3, and maintain the apertures S in the sheets in registration wlth arespective prong 14 or 15 when the binder is in the open position andthereby relieve that portion of the sheets adjacent the apertures of thestrain or stress incident to maintaining the sheets on the prongs, and

1 thus eliminating to a marked degree, the liability of the sheetsbecoming mutilated or torn at these apertures. V

The elongated apertures 25 in the body of thefiipper are extendedinwardly from the ledge portions 28 a sufficient distance to permit theready entrance therethrough of the prongs 14 or 15 when the SAGGtS andbinder are in the open position, withthe inner longitudinal edges of thesheets abuttingthe ledges In order that the flippers extend outwardlybeyond the ledges to form supports 28 which terminate at such a distancefrom the'l'edges that when the flippers are in theopen position, theouter longitudinal edges thereof will lie, on the cover plate 17substantially midway between the prongs l4: and 15.

In order that the supports 28 on the flippers associated with one covermay not extend over the support 28. on the flipper associated with theother cover of the binder, I have provided the outer longitudinal edgesof these supporting members with upwardly extending abutting shoulders29' which may be secured to the supports, or as shown,

formed integrally therewith by bending the edge portion outwardly atsubstantially rifght-angles to the remaining portion there- 0 As, theuppersurface of the cover plate 17 is curved transversely, asillustrated in Figure 3, with the highest portion at the center, it isobvious that thefmovement of the flippers will be assisted by the coverplate 17 as the inner longitudinal, edgesof' the. supports 28 travelover the downwardly inclined surface of the plate as the outer ends ofthe flippers are being elevated during the closing of the binderwhichassistsin preventing the flippers gripping the, prongs during theclosing operation. 7 I

, It may now be understood that I have provided a flipper which will notonly protect the sheets by supporting and by'directing them in theirmovement, along the prongs during the closingof the binder, but which,owing to the particular construction thereof,

will themselves move with a maxi-mum degree of ease and freedom from,the open to the closed position, and although I have shownj andparticularly described the preferred embodiment of this invention, I donot wish to be limited. to the exact constructionshown as variouschanges both in the form and the relation ofthe parts thereof mayreadily be made without departing from the spirit of this invention as.set forth in the appended claims. i

I claim:v

7 1. In a device ofthe class described, a body member having a pluralityof apertures in spaced relation adjacent one-edge, said edge havingshoulders extending from one face thereof in spaced relation with saidapertures adapted to abut against similar shoulders on another flipperfor preventing overlapping of adjacent portions of co-operatingflippers.

2. In a device of the class described, a body member having a pluralityof apertures in spaced relation adjacent one edge thereof, said edgehaving a plurality of spaced ledges in alignment with the apertures, andsupporting members intermediate said ledges having their outer edgesprovided with shoulders adapted to abut against similar shoulders onanother flipper for preventing overlapping of adjacent portions ofco-operating flippers.

8. In a device of the class described in combination with a binderhaving a back member, opposed sets of prongs, means for mounting theprongs on the back member, of opposed flippers mounted on the prongs,each flipper comprising a body member having a plurality of aperturesarranged in spaced relation adjacent one edge thereof for receivingrespective prongs therethrough, said edge having shoulders normallypositioned midway between said prongs when the binder is in the openposition adapted to abut against those of the other flipper forpreventing overlapping of adjacent portions of co-operating flippers.

4. Ina device of the class described in combination with a binder havinga back member, opposed sets of prongs, means for mounting the prongs onthe back member, of

opposed flippers carried on the prongs, each flipper having a pluralityof apertures arranged in spaced relation adjacent one edge thereof forreceiving prongs of one set, said edge having a plurality of spacedledges in alignment with the apertures, and supporting membersintermediate said ledges having their outer edges terminatingsubstantially midway between said prongs and provided with shouldersextending from one face thereof adapted to abut against those of theother flipper for preventing overlapping of adj acent portions ofco-operating flippers.

5. In a device of the class described in combination with a binderhaving a back member, opposed sets of prongs, means for mounting theprongs on the back members and a curved cover plate adapted to concealthe prong-mounting means, of opposed flippers mounted on said prongseach comprising a body member having a plurality of apertures arrangedin spaced relation along one edge thereof adapted to receive saidprongs, said edge having supporting extensions adapted to terminatesubstantially midway between the edges of said cover plate and havingshoulders extending from one face thereof adapted to abut against thoseof the other flipper for preventing overlapping of adjacent portions ofco-operating flippers.

6. In a device of the class described in combination with a binderhaving a back member, opposed sets of prongs, means for mounting theprongs on the back members and a curved cover plate adapted to concealthe prong-mounting means, of opposed flippers mounted on said prongseach comprising a body member having a plurality of apertures arrangedin spaced relation along one edge thereof, said edge having a pluralityof spaced ledges in alignment with the apertures, and supportsintermediate said ledges adapted to terminate substantially midwaybetween the edges of said cover plate when the binder is in the openposition, and shoulders extending from one face of said supportingmembers adapted to abut against those of the other flipper forpreventing overlapping of adjacent portions of co-operating flippers.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 21 day of March1932.

JOHN L. MQMILLAN.

